Developments on Sanchez, Molina

More is known about second baseman Freddy Sanchez’s surgery and Bengie Molina’s one-year contract.

Molina, on a conference call, said he took $4.5 million from the Giants instead of $5.5 million from the Mets because he’s more familiar with the Giants. Plus, he said they have a better chance at the postseason than the Mets.

“I always wanted to be back. I always said that,” Molina said. “I love these kids. I take a lot of pride in what I did, and we were so close last year.”

Molina said he never received a two-year offer from the Mets, which surprised him considering his productivity in recent years. “I went in with high expectations. It didn’t work out at all. I can not control the other teams, and they didn’t want me,” Molina said.

The plan is to move him down in the lineup, possibly sixth. “I never considered myself a fourth hitter. I thought I was doing them a favor,” said Molina, adding he’ll bat wherever manager Bruce Bochy wants him. “I can hit behind the pitcher if he wants me there.”

Molina called the new lineup, with Aubrey Huff and Mark DeRosa, “unbelievable.” He said the goal shouldn’t be to finish above .500. It should be to reach the playoffs and advance deep into the postseason.

As for Buster Posey, the catcher of the future, he’s destined for Triple-A Fresno. Molina said he texted Posey yesterday, saying he’ll make himself available if the kid needs any help. He said Posey called back, and they chatted.

“It was our feeling all along he needed more seasoning,” GM Brian Sabean said of Posey. “We still feel that way.”

As for Sanchez, trainer Dave Groeschner confirmed the second baseman underwent left shoulder surgery on Dec. 23 and that the decision not to go public with it (until Bochy mentioned it on KNBR Thursday night) was made by both Sanchez and the team.

Groeschner said Sanchez, while recovering from knee surgery, began doing baseball work but “wasn’t feeling comfortable and had recurring symptoms” in the shoulder. He had gone on the DL Aug. 25 with a left shoulder strain.

Dr. Ken Akizuki of the Giants’ staff performed the surgery — repairing a torn labrum and cleaning up an arthritic AC joint, Groeschner said. Sanchez is rehabbing in Arizona.

Groeschner said Sanchez’s goal is to be ready opening day, but realistically he might have to sit the first two weeks of the season. More will be known in March.

Why wasn’t the shoulder damage detected before Sanchez signed a two-year, $12 million contract on Oct. 30? After all, the Giants had MRI results.

“Sports medicine is not black and white all the time,” Groeschner said. “A lot of interpretation goes into it.”

Sabean was asked if he would have done anything different with the contract.

“Not at all,” he said. “The degree of due diligence was done on the medical side. It shows the medical profession isn’t perfect. . . . Nothing more could’ve been done. We checked out every medical question.”

Until Sanchez is OK, Juan Uribe is expected to play second and Edgar Renteria leads a list of candidates to take Sanchez’s spot as the No. 2 hitter.

To clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Molina, the Giants designated Jesus Guzman for assignment. Sabean said any other player additions would not be added to the 40-man roster.